Reflecting on God’s personal involvement in trials, we are to gratefully and confidently rely on His strength and wisdom to carry us through any situation (Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths). We are to trust His all-sufficient Word in every aspect of life and in all relationships (2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work). We are to cast aside mere human wisdom to try and accomplish His purposes(1 Corinthians 3:19-20: For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written,He catches the wise in their craftiness, and again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile). In any trial, we are to follow the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who trusted Himself to our loving, heavenly Father (1 Peter 2:21-23: For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly). If we look only to ourselves or others for answers, we soon learn that any perceived “gain” coming out of trials is often more “pain.” Yet, as we face and endure trials that are out of our control, we learn to prayerfully trust God as He works His will in us. Even in pain, we discover true joy on the path to greater Christ-likeness (James 1:2-4: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing). Through trials, we can grow in Christ and realize that any “pain” associated with trials cannot be compared to the eternal “gain” that He has promised (Romans 8:18: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us). Trials can draw us closer to the Lord. There is no greater gain in spite of the pain.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 13:28:08 +0000
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